Trap-setting device.



' Patented Aug. 2|, I900.

A. esntnous.

TRAP SETTING DEVICE.

(Apphcatxon filed May 25, 1900 frzveifi z" fllexamier Genzwud I By his fliiorne 6.

(No Model.)

2&237286866 m Gm.

' Tu: ucnms 9mm on. Pnomunia, WASNINDTON, a. c,

force and that the operation is attended with ALEXANDER GENEROUS, OF PRINCETON, MINNESOTA.

TRAP-SETTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,540, dated August 21, 1900. Application filed May 25, 1900. Serial No. 17,934. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER GENEROUS, a citizen of the United States, residing "at Princeton, in the county of Mille Laos and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trap-SettingDevices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient device by the use of which large and powerful animal-traps may with ease and safety be set or put in operative positions.

To the above ends the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

By all persons familiar with these animaltraps it is a known fact that such traps may be set against the tension of their powerful spring only by applying a very considerable much danger, resulting in many injuries to the persons setting the traps.- Furthermore, at such places as traps are usually set it is very often impossible to find anything with which it is possible to open up and set powerful animal-traps. By the use of my device the most powerful animal-trap maybe easily opened up and set wit-h absolute safety to the trapper.

The invention in its preferred form is illustrated in the accompanyin gdrawin gs, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout both the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved trap-setting device applied to an ordinary animal-trap, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the trap setting device removed from working position.

Of the parts of the animal-trap the numew als 1 and 2 indicate the jaws, the numeral 3 the springs, the numeral 4 the base or frame of the trap, the numeral 5 thetrip-lever, and the numeral 6 the lock pawl or latch, all of which parts are of the ordinary construction and the actions of which are well understood. Attention is here simply called to the fact that the jaw 1 is the member upon which the 1 springs 3 act and which is to be locked down by theconjoint action of the trip-lever 5 and latch 6."

In accordance with my invention I provide a frame (1, having a pair of prongs a, that are adapted to embrace the springs 3. To make these prongs a adjustable to traps of difierent size, the longitudinal body or bar portion a is divided,overlapped, and adj ustably seper prongs a. At their lower ends the screws 0 are provided with swiveled clamping feet or clips 0', which have downturned side prongs 0 that are adapted to straddle the upper blade portions of the springs 3, and thus to prevent the said clamping-feet from turning on the said springs.

To set the trap, the device is applied to the trap-springs as illustrated in Fig. 1, except thatthe screws 0 will be positioned substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The springs are compressed so as to permit the jaws of the trap to be separated by screwing downward the compression-screws c. If found necessary in order to turn the screws 0, a pin f may be passed through perforations in the head of the screws 0, so that the same may be turned with greater power. After the trap has been set the springs 0 may be gradually released, so that at no time is there any danger either in setting the trap or in removing the device therefrom.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. A device for setting animal-traps, comprising a pair of prongs, and a clampingscrew working through one of the jaws of said prongs and adapted to compress the trapspring against the other jaw, substantially as described.

2. A device for setting animal-traps, comprising the prongs a, the screws 0 working through the upper of said prongs a, and the clamping-feet c swiveled to said screws c and side prongs 0 said parts operating substau- 10 provided with the downturned side prongs c tially as described. substantially as described. In testimony whereof I affix my signature 3. The combination with the adjustablyin presence of two Witnesses.

5 secured sections a havin the pron ed heads 1 a, the lower prongs havi hg the slits or seats ALEXANDER GEM EROUS' a of the screws 0 working through the up- Vitnesses: per prongs a and having swiveled to their HARRY KILGORE, ends the clamping-heads c with downturued F. D. MERCHANT. 

